I have the bike home and licensed but having one small issue, I'm 250 pounds in my wheelchair and the hack is heavy as well. The bike has a 1978 400cc engine, it's a Hondamatic so 2 gears, 1st takes me from 0 to 50 mph, when I try 2nd it falls on it's face. I noticed the bike had aftermarket open exhaust thinking less back pressure maybe causing lack of low end. Added collector (h-pipe) and mufflers, also went down a tooth on front sprocket, at 50 mph I have higher RPMs but not enough to pull 2nd gear, just slows down until I need 1st.

STRANGE PART, is now I need a tach, so buy a generic one and it idles around 1,000 RPMs but as soon as it goes over 3,500 RPMs or close to it the tach jumps all over. Sent back to manufacture and they tested OK. Thought I'd check the basics and when I got to timing the it idles fine but when I rev the engine to check advanced timing the timing light goes out just before I get to max advance timing. This has to be related.....so...

Do I have a weak CDI or coil? It's just too strange that the Shop Manual and other book show the exact same instructions for timing and it will not light the timing light past 3,000 to 4,000 RPMs. Appears to run OK, very hot even when cool out, can't pull spark plug until you let it cool, a long time even the wire is hot. I use this same light on my car and get light at 4,000 RPMs for advance timing. I need the tach working so I can buy a custom rear sprocket in hopes it will allow 2nd gear to pull.

I've bought another set of cylinder heads, thinking I can put 450 or 500 pistons in, port and rebuild to increase overall power, use the second set of carbs, up jet for the larger displacement. Just fix with brute power, 2nd will have to pull then.

Do I just get it geared right so I can drive at highway speeds then start the new generation of Handy Hack? Or do I put money into the engine to get more power out of the old CB400a?

That's right I want to get this Custom Classic running good so I can build a newer style off a CBR, FZR, GSXR you get the idea a shifter 750 or 1000cc class Handy Hauler. So the more money I save on Handy Hack 1, I spend that on Handy Hack / Hauler 2.

I'm in the shop working on a Motorcycle, haven't done that since the summer of 1988, thanks again everyone who helped or sent parts, you guys are great